Tiarella plant named ‘Morning Star’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Tiarella  plant characterized its compact habit with numerous flowering stems and pink flowers, distinct leaf form and coloration.

Botanical denomination: Tiarella hybrid.

Variety designation: ‘Morning Star’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of a hardyherbaceous perennial of the genus Tiarella, and known by the cultivarname ‘Morning Star’. The genus Tiarella is a member of the familySaxifragaceae.

The new cultivar originated as a cross between unknown parents. This newTiarella was one of many seedlings grown from select, proprietary,interspecific hybrids that were unnamed, experimental varieties thatwere mass pollinated in the greenhouse in Canby, Oreg. The instant plantwas selected as outstanding from the above seedlings. From observationof the characteristics exhibited by the instant plant, it is aninterspecific hybrid. As such no species designations are given.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This plant is characterized by the following:

-   -   1. Compact habit.    -   2. Numerous flowering stems.    -   3. Attractive maple shaped leaf with dark pattern along main        veins.    -   4. Pink buds and white flower color.    -   5. Excellent vigor.

The new variety has been reproduced only by asexual propagation(division and micropropagation). Each of the progeny exhibits identicalcharacteristics to the original plant. Asexual propagation by divisionand micropropagation using standard techniques with terminal and lateralshoots as done in Canby, Oreg., shows that the foregoing characteristicsand distinctions come true to form and are established and transmittedthrough succeeding propagations. The present invention has not beenevaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype mayvary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype ofthe plant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The photograph shows a one-and a half year old Tiarella ‘Morning Star’in bloom in the garden in late May in Canby, Oreg.

DETAILED PLANT DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new Tiarella hybrid basedon observations of two-year-old plants grown in the garden, in theground, in shade, under typical outdoor conditions in Canby, Oreg. Canbyis Zone 8 on the USDA Hardiness map. Temperatures range from a high of95 degrees F. in August to 32 degrees F. in January. Normal rainfall inCanby is 42.8 inches per year. The color descriptions are all based onThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart.

-   Botanical name: Tiarella hybrid.-   Cultivar name: ‘Morning Star’.-   Plant:    -   -   Type.—Herbaceous perennial.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zones 4 to 9.        -   Form.—Basal clump.        -   Size.—35 cm wide and 17 cm high.        -   Vigor.—Excellent.        -   Roots.—Fibrous, freely branching, fine, and white in color,            White 155A. Roots develop easily from divisions.-   Foliage:    -   -   Type.—Simple.        -   Arrangement.—Rosette.        -   Shape.—Ovate to orbicular in outline.        -   Lobing.—Deeply 7 parted with terminal lobe the longest and            prominent open spaces between the lobes and with each lobe            irregularly lobed again. Terminal 3 lobes narrow at base            making the leaf distinct.        -   Margins.—Crenate.        -   Venation.—Palmate.        -   Apex.—Mucronulate.        -   Base.—Cordate and usually overlapping.        -   Blade length.—Variable, 8 to 10 cm.        -   Blade width.—Variable, 5.5 to 9.5 cm.        -   Surface texture.—Hirsute top and bottom.        -   Petiole length.—Variable, 17 to 18 cm.        -   Petiole texture.—Strongly pubescent.        -   Petiole color.—Brown 200A overall.        -   Leaf color.—From Yellow Green 146A in spring to Yellow Green            147A in summer with Brown 200B along main veins and outwards            covering one-third of the leaf blade. In winter the leaves            stay Yellow Green 147A and the pattern covers half or more            of the leaf, Brown 200A. Bottom side is Yellow Green 148B.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Raceme.        -   Number of raceme in first spring flush.—160.        -   Flower number.—60 per raceme, above branching.        -   Bloom period.—April to May with sporadic rebloom throughout            the summer and fall.        -   Peduncle.—With 0 to 1 leaf bract and branching 1 to 5 times,            each branch with 5 to 15 flowers, branches held close to            main flowering stem and 2 to 13 cm long. Height — 30 to            34 cm. Width — 2 mm at the widest point. Color — Greyed            Green 197A near top and Greyed Purple 187A near base.            Texture — Hispid.        -   Pedicel.—Length — 0.4 to 0.5 cm. Texture — Puberulent. Color            — Red Purple 72A.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Size.—0.4 cm deep and 0.3 cm wide.        -   Description.—Ovoid, downfacing until open.        -   Color—Pink, Greyed Purple 186C.-   Flower:    -   -   Type.—Perfect, actinomorphic, sepals petaloid.        -   Shape.—Rotate.        -   Petal and sepal number.—5 petals, 5 fused sepals.        -   Flower size.—0.7 wide and 0.5 cm. deep including stamens.        -   Petal shape.—Lanceolate with a clawed base, margins entire,            apex acute.        -   Petal size.—0.6 cm long and 0.1 cm. wide.        -   Petal color.—White 155A on both sides.        -   Calyx.—Petaloid, parted almost to the base, lobes            lanceolate, tips acute, margins entire.        -   Calyx size.—1.1 cm wide and 0.4 cm deep.        -   Calyx color.—Greyed Purple 186D on lobes to White 155A at            base on inner surface and Greyed Purple 186D on the outside.        -   Stamens.—10, conspicuously exerted.        -   Filaments.—White 155A, 0.3 cm long.        -   Anthers undehisced.—Orange 28C.        -   Pollen color.—Orange 28B.        -   Pistil.—White 155A.        -   Fragrance.—Slight.-   Fruit:    -   -   Type.—A one-celled capsule, beak-like, composed of two            unequal parts.        -   Size.—0.7 cm long.        -   Color.—Brown 200C.-   Seeds:    -   -   Color.—Black 202A.        -   Shape.—Minute, oval, 1 mm long.        -   Fertility.—Fertile.-   Disease and pest tolerance: This new hybrid shows good mildew    tolerance, the main problem for Tiarella. All Tiarella are    susceptible to root weevils.

COMPARISONS WITH SIMILAR TIARELLA

Compared with Tiarella ‘Ninja’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,168), Tiarella‘Morning Star’ has similar leaf shape and size, but the lobes are moredeeply cut and narrower. The plant is more compact, with much betterflower number and flower stem number.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Tiarella plant substantially asillustrated and described.